The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-06-18

down, but perfectly even on the heel
and sole, and the feet they belonged
to must be simply perfect. Small,
high instep, well arched--perfection.
l said to the cobbler: The child
that wears those ought to be hand
some Child ? said he, she's IL frau
lein, and very pretty at that He
did not know her name, but promis-
ed to find out. | am bound to get
acquainted with her, and if she's all
right--she has good blood, as her
feet show-and she'll have, by Jove,
I'll make her Mrs. Exton.'
There was something so comical
in the idea of man choosing a wife
by her feet that l laughed outright,
and so did he.
Exton came in week after, and
among other things | asked him if
he had found the young lady with
the pretty feet. He nodded, looked
grave and at once began to talk
about new plants in the shop, one, u
fuchia, in particular.
at is new," | said, "but will not
be for sale till next year. | am get
ting up a stock. If you admire that
so much, you ought to look at the
one have at my house 1t is COW
cred with bloom"
81 should very much like to see
it," he said.
"That is easy" | replied. 81 dine
at three o'clock on Sunday. If you
will come then and take dinner with
me I'll show you the fushia and
something fner--the handsomest
baby in New York"
with pleasure" said Exton.
'The plant is attractive and the ba-
by--irresistible." E"
Exton came according to invita-.
ton. After dinner, and he had suf-
ficiently examined and and admired
the fushia, Betty brought in the
baby. Exton's praise Of the child
quite won my wife's heart. 1t was
pronounced to be prodigy, and
Exton snapped his fingers at it, and
chooky-chooed for it in away that
would have done credit to an exper-
fenced family man; and he wound
up by giving the nursemaid some
good advice about its management,
which, to make it more impressive,
as he said, he expressed in German
which he spoke huently.
EXton came to us again, on some
pretext, and acquired the habit Of
comfrequently. He never seemed
to have had enough of that baby
and as whenever he came it had to
be brought in, and kept there, my
wife got used to it and left him with
the baby and its nursey while she
began to build an air castle.
"You may depend on it, john
said she, "that the baby will profit
by this. Mr.. Exton is very fond
of Marmaduke, and as he has neith-
er chick or child and is not mar
rying man l shouldn't be surpr ised
if he left it a nice little penny
smiled, for | had no hopes OF
that kind. My wife often REQUIRED
to it, but suddenly dropped the sub
iect and said no more about it.
One day there came letter with
Il foreion postmark addressed to
Betty. She translated its contents
to my wife in confidence, and they
had confab over it. Then there
was a deal of sewing going on. The
sewing machine was kept busy, but
it was always showed aside when /
came in, with bushes from the girl
and giggling from my wife. | sup
posed they were making something
for me against my birthday, and l
kept very quiet, to let them have
the satisfaction of surprising me.
But when my birthday had come
and gone, and there was nothing
said, l was a little puzzled.
One day, later ont was Il pleas
ant sunny day in the Indian Sum-
mer-I was detained at home till
near ten o'clock. Betty had gone
out to air the baby. | went to the
station of the elevated road in the
next street, and when half way up
the steps CHANGED to look down the
cross street. Then | saw Betty
wheeling Marmaduke's carriage on
the sidewalk, and alongside of her
walked Mr.. Exton, who was talking
to her earnestly. A policeman, a
new one on the beat, caught my eye,
and with a slight wink nodded his
head toward the couple.
"Well," l said to myself, drawing
Il long breath, Il am astonished, to
say the least"
That afternoon Exton lounged into
my shop and ! asked him into my
back Office, whence | had previous